Sash Technique

What is the SASH Technique?

SASH stands for…

S: Saline (0.9%)

A: Administer (medication)

S: Saline

H: Heparin (10 units/ml OR 100 units/ml)

If more than 1 medication is administered via IV the acronym becomes…

S: Saline

A: Administer (medication)

S: Saline

A: Administer (medication)

S: Saline

H: Heparin

Saline prevents the IV catheter from becoming occluded due to medication precipitates which may form because of a pH imbalance, calcium phosphate crystal formation in a PN (peripheral nutrition) being delivered via IV (injecting calcium gluconate and sodium/potassium phosphate in the wrong order), or other medication or tubing related causes.

Saline also helps flush residual medication from the catheter site.

Heparin is an anticoagulant and prevents thrombus formation in the IV catheter to prevent occlusion.

Flushing also reduces the risk of developing catheter-related bloodstream infections. Both saline and heparin are available as single-use syringes. 

Learn more about how this applies in a home infusion pharmacy